Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Australians and New Zealanders

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Australian and New Zealander Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
Website
Other

Uc Press: Workin' Man Blues

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, from the University of California Press, offers a description of Gerald Haslam's book about country music in California called "Workin' Man Blues." The site also offers a bit of information about Haslam's life and other works.
Website
Other

Mad River Theater Works: The Ballad of John Henry [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll down this study guide to find the lyrics to the Ballad of John Henry, which was collected from individuals in the West Virginia mountains in the 1920's. Discusses the different versions of the song and the history behind it.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Lloyd Price

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Lloyd Price, an American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Price made his mark in rock music history with his exuberant tenor and his flair for recasting rhythm and blues as...
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Influence of Folk

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site, which explores the influence of musical folk traditions in the poetry of Langston Hughes and Nicolas Guillen, provides lesson plans, a biography, examples of Hughes' poetry, and details about his meeting with Nicolas Guillen.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Will Smith

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Will Smith, an American actor and musician whose charisma, clean-cut good looks, and quick wit helped him transition from rap music to a successful career in acting.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Luther Vandross

For Students 9th - 10th
Summarizes the life and career of Luther Vandross, an American soul and pop singer, songwriter, and producer whose widespread popularity and reputation as a consummate stylist began in the early 1980s.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Stevie Wonder

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biographical sketch of Stevie Wonder, an African-American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Etta Baker

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Etta Baker, an American folk musician who influenced the folk music revival of the 1950s and '60s with her mastery of East Coast Piedmont blues, a unique fingerpicking style of...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Carl Van Vechten

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Carl Van Vechten, a U.S. novelist, music and drama critic, and an influential figure in New York literary circles in the 1920s.
Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Duke Ellington

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1986 to commemorate famous jazz musician Duke Ellington. Includes a short biographical passage.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Biography of Dizzy Gillespie

For Students 9th - 10th
This PBS biography about trumpeter and jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie includes photos, multiple audio features, and links within the text to other famous musicians.
Professional Doc
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Hamilton's America: Collection

For Teachers 9th - 10th
GREAT PERFORMANCES: "Hamilton's America" provides a behind-the-scenes look at Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton. "Hamilton's America" blends history, footage of Miranda's writing process, and scenes from the...
Article
Other

Native Peoples: Powwow 101

For Students 9th - 10th
This article explains what a powwow is, some of its history, how native people feel about them, powwow etiquette, the music, the dances, and the regalia. (Published July-August 2004 issue)
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Watts, Andre

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article gives a brief biography of Andre Watts, the first internationally known black classical pianist.
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 2: Langston Hughes and the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore relationship between music and poetry in this African-American history lesson on Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance, and other artists such as Bessie Smith, John Hammond, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Robert "Bob" Fosse Was Born

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site is provided for by America's Library. Most of the dance that is seen today in music videos and dance clubs came from a man who lived more that 80 years ago. Learn more about this dance legend at this site from the Library of...
Website
Other

Saudi Aramco World: Muslim Roots, u.s. Blues

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explores the link between Muslim traditions and American blues music. Using audio content, pictures, text, and the song ?Levee Camp Holler,? this site examines African Muslim history tied to the history of U.S. Blues.
Activity
SparkNotes

Spark Notes: Social Trends of the 1950s

For Students 9th - 10th
Spark Notes gives a brief overview of the 1950s from consumerism and conformity to poverty to youthful rebellion. A good review of this important decade in American history.
Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Anacostia Museum: The Renaissance: Black Art of the Twenties

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an informative description of the "Black Arts of the Twenties," which was better known as the Harlem Renaissance. Learn about the culture, art, music, and writings of this period.
Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Pueblos

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of the Pueblo people of the American Southwest. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
Website
Other

Chickasaw Cultural Center: The Heartbeat of a Nation

For Students 9th - 10th
The Chickasaw Cultural Center's stated purpose is to celebrate Chickasaw history and culture. The best way to explore what it has to offer is to view the many videos (the link is at the bottom of the page) which tour the features of the...
Interactive
Other

Mission Us: Pennywhistle Hero

For Students 3rd - 8th
Interactive website teaches students about U.S. history in this game using instruments and songs of the colonial era. Levels of difficulty vary.
Primary
Contemplator

Popular Songs in American History: Turkey in the Straw

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides the lyrics to an early minstrel song that was popular during Andrew Jackson's presidency.

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